In
short, and irrespective of in many cases inarguably low bear populations, the mésallianceis
exploiting and merchandizing the American black bear.

Point to Point Communications, headed by former fur industry
publicists and lobbyists,wrote the original, if self-serving, "bear clashes" report.
"Bears in the Backyard," written by publicists, was published with federal aid to wildlife funds, and
with the government's imprimatur.

The
firm boasts of planting articles "on the front pages" of the New York
Times and Wall Street Journal.

"He
who gets the message out first, wins," says Point to Point.

The
human-bear incidents cited are not representative or frequent, and, with
sanitation and secured trash, completely preventable. New Jersey's game agency refuses to
enforce the state's bear feeding law, and its game officials' estimates of black bear populations have been called
"grossly exaggerated" by the country's foremost black bear expert.

Nor
is the focus of the article coincidence: the industry's poll tester,
Responsible Management, reports that when it comes to black bear hunts, the public rejects
trophy and recreational motives: "controlling the population" gains the most support.

The
Nevada Department of Wildlife's claim that the state's black bears are
"expandingrapidly" is sheer nonsense. At 200-300 animals, the Nevada
population is so low, and tenuous,that critics demanded the head of the department step down for allowing a
trophy hunt replete with dog packs and bows.

Black bear females reproduce slowly, typically birthing cubs every
two years upon reaching maturity. That is
why populations are so susceptible to being wiped out by trophy hunting. From
1958 to 1970, under New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife "scientific management,"
hunters eradicated the black bear throughout the state.

Last
but not least, surveys across the country, from Alaska to Maryland to New
Jersey,

confirm that the majority of citizens desire securing trash in
bear-resistant bins and dumpsters. Whilst using "clashes" to justify lotteries, game agencies will never seriously
pursue the programs.